Barrette



Jan 22, 1957 c. D. GRESHAM ET AL 2,778,367

BARRETTE Filed Jan. 26, 1955 FIG. 5.

INVENTORS CLAUDE a GRESHAM ERNEST HOFFMAN ATTORNEY we we The present invention relates to a hair fastener and,

more particularly, to a new and improved barrette forarranging and maintaining the'hair'of the wearer'neatand attractive.

An important object is to provide a barrette with soft, pliable, yieldable means having flexible teeth extending outwardly and laterally from one side thereof so as to engage the head of the wearer in order to maintain the barrette in a fixed position without danger of scratching or injuring the scalp.

A further object is to provide a barrette having an elongated opening or recess in which is positioned a similar shaped elongated soft, pliable insert having one or more rows of longitudinally disposed teeth extending outwardly and laterally from one side thereof, so as to provide a non-slip device that will allow the barrette to be placed in a braid of hair and stay indefinitely in its original position.

A still further object consists in forming a soft, pliable insert of any suitable plastic or rubberized material, in which the outer or exposed surface or face of the insert is of less width than the inner surface and in which the outer and inner faces of the insert are connected by an intermediate centrally disposed portion of less width than the inner face and which coacts with the overlapped sides of the outer and inner surfaces to form longitudinally extending grooves or channels on opposite sides of the insert for receiving the adjacent inner sides of the elongated opening in the body in order to be releasably but firmly connected thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in'which are shown for the purpose of illustration, several embodiments of the invention:

Figure l is a perspective view of a hair fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed side view of the elongated soft, flexible insert and showing in dotted lines the insert bent longitudinally;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing one of the flexible teeth or fingers associated with the soft insert.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a hair fastener which may be of any suitable size and shape, but which is shown made of light metal and of elongated configuration. The body 11 of the barrette may be longitudinally curved and is provided with an elongated opening or recess 12 arranged to receive a similarly shaped soft, pliable, flexible insert 13 made of any suitable plastic or rubberized material, of any desired color or design so as to harmoniously blend with the body 10 to enhance the attractive or ornamental appearance of the I, 2,778,367 Patented Jan. 22,1957

ice

same when worn. The insert 13 is formed with an inner face 14 and an outer exposed face 15 of less width than the face 14. The inner and outer faces are connected by an intermediate reduced portion 16 (Fig. 2) which forms the side flanges 1'7 on the inner face 14 and the side flanges 18 on the (interface 1 5. The side edges of p tions 20 someday the sides 21'and ends 22 of the body 11 around the elongated opening 12, "so'as to provide means for firmly maintaining the soft,flexible insert in a fixed position when connected to the metal body 10.

The. inner face 14 of the" insert 13' has extending 'outwardly andlaterally therefrom, soft, flexible, teeth or fingers 23 preferably arranged in parallel spaced rows extending longitudinally adjacent opposite sides of the insert so as to constitute non-slip means for maintaining the barrette in a .braid of hair of the wearer without danger of scratching or injuring the scalp. Further, the insert provides a soft cushion for the wearer without hurting the head when used with a hat, bonnet, or scarf, and insures the barrette when placed in the hair being maintained indefinitely in its original position.

Any suitable clasp may be provided for detachably connecting the barrette to the hair of the wearer and, as shown, a pair of spaced spring arms 24 may be provided, which are pivotally connected to a trunnion sleeve 25 fastened to one end of the body 11. The opposite end of the body may be provided with a catch or keeper 26 for releasably receiving the spring arms 24 in order to releasably maintain the -barrettein proper position on the head of the wearer.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the barrette 27 is shownin the form of a metal smooth curved plate or bar to the inner side 28 of which is suitably secured, a soft, pliable, cushioning member 29 made of any suitable plastic or rubberized material and which is fastened to the adjacent side of the plate 27 by adhesive means 30 or the like. The soft cushioning member 29 has extending outwardly and laterally therefrom, one or more rows of soft flexible teeth 31- preferably formed integrally therewith, and so arranged as to allow the barrette to hold a braid of hair firmly in its original position and without danger of the barrette moving side wise. Additionally, the soft cushioning member 29 will not scratch or injure the head when placed inwardly against the scalp as would be the case if these teeth were made of hard non-yieldable material.

Figure 5 shows the soft, pliable insert 13 with one of the fingers or teeth 23 extending therefrom and in dotted ornamental shapes and be formed of either metal or nonmetal material. However, in all forms, it will be provided with a soft, flexible cushion member for preventing injury to the scalp or head when attached to a braid of hair or the like. Moreover, otheryieldable means may be substituted for the teeth to. prevent slipping of the barrette and for holding a braid ofhair in a fixed position.

While the barrette has been shown made of metal, it may, of course, be formed of any other suitable rigid material, such as plastic or'the like, with which the soft plastic insert or member coacts to provide cushioning means for comfortably maintaining the hair fastener in position.

It will be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and that such changes may be made as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: v

l. A barrette including a body having an elongated opening, a soft pliable elongated insert in said opening and projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof to provide an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer grooves so as to maintain the insert in a fixed position,

. and means for detachably connecting the barrette to the surface being of less width than the inner surface and 4 connected thereto by an intermediate portion of less width than the outer surface so that the longitudinal sides of the inner and outer surfaces overlap the intermediate portion to provide longitudinally extending grooves on erally extending flexible teeth, the inner longitudinal sides 4 of the elongated opening extending inwardly into said hair of the wearer.

2. A barrette, including a body having an opening therein providing lateral wall portions, a soft pliable insert substantially thicker than said body and having flanges extending outwardly from the perimeter of the insert so as to form a wall portion engaging groove, said insert extending through said opening and beyond the opposite sides of said body with the flanges engaging the wall portions of the body so as to maintain the insert in a fixed position, and means for detachably connecting the barrette to the hair of the wearer, said insert constituting a soft cushion for preventing scratching or injuring of the head when worn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,848 Koenig May 15, 1900 1,174,531 Thornton Mar. 7, 1916 2,142,849 Huppert Jan. 3, 1939 

